Brain Flashcards
The brain and spinal cord are made up of what?
matter
What are the two kinds of matter?
gray and white
What is the function of gray matter?
receive and process
What kind of structures are made of gray matter?
neuron bodies, dendrites
What is the function of white matter?
send
What kind of structures are made up of white matter?
myelinated axons
What are the characteristics of the brain?
- an organ in the CNS
- located in the head (near the sensory organs)
- 4 regions
- communicates through the spinal cord and 12 pairs of cranial nerves
What are the four regions of the brain?
- cerebrum
- diencephalon
- brainstem
- cerebellum
What protects the brain?
- cranium
- three meninges
- cerebrospinal fluid
- blood-brain barrier
What is a meninge?
brain-covering membranes
What three meninges protect the brain?
- duramater
- arachnoid mater
- pia mater
Duramater
tough outer membrane
Arachnoid mater
web-like, secures the vessels, filled with the CSF
Pia mater
delicate inner membrane fused with the brain
What cell produces cerebrospinal fluid?
ependymal cells
Blood-brain barrier function
prevents the entry of harmful materials
What cell is responsible for forming the blood-brain barrier
astrocytes
What is a ventricle?
interconnected cavities
Ventricles characteristics
- 4 chambers
- connect with the central canal of the spinal cord
- parts contain choroid plexus involved in the production of CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid function
mechanical and chemical protection
What does “mater” mean?
mother
Cortex
an outer layer of an organ
Sulcus
shallow groove
Fissure
deep grove
Gyrus
worm-like fold on the surface
Ganglion
cluster of neuron bodies (GM) in the PNS
Nucleus
cluster of neuron bodies (GM) deep in the CNS
Nerve
bundle of axons (WM) in PNS
Tract
Bundle of axons (WM) in CNS
Cerebrum function
processing of:
- all complex intellectual functions
- voluntary movement
- conscious senses
Complex intellectual functions
reasoning, thoughts, memory
Conscious senses
visual, auditory, olfactory, etc
Structure of cerebrum
two hemispheres separated by the longitudinal fissure
What are the three components of the cerebrum?
- cerebral cortex
- cerebral white matter
- cerebral nuclei
The cerebral cortex is made up of what kind of matter?
gray matter
Structural components of the cerebral cortex
gyri (=folds/hills)
- sulci (= invaginations/valleys)
Cerebral white matter function
forms tracts
Tracts =
pathways
What is an example of cerebral white matter?
corpus callosum that connects left and right hemispheres
Cerebral (basal) nuclei is made up of white kind of matter?
gray matter
Cerebral (basal) nuclei function
regulate movement, muscle tone
The cerebral cortex is divided into how many lobes?
six
What are the lobes of the cerebral cortex?
- frontal lobe
- parietal lobe
- occipital lobe
- temporal lobe
- insular lobe
- limbic lobe
Insular lobe
“island” within the lateral fissure
Limbic lobe
medial “border” of hemispheres
What are the functional areas the cerebral cortex is divided into?
- motor areas
- sensory areas
- association areas
What are the two motor areas?
primary motor cortex and motor speech (broca) area
Primary motor cortex function
voluntary movement
Primary motor cortex location
precentral gyrus
Motor speech (Broca) area function
speech
Motor speech (Broca) area location
left frontal lobe
What are the five sensory areas?
- primary somato sensory cortex
- primary visual cortex
- primary auditory
- primary olfactory cortex
- primary gustatory cortex
Primary somato sensory cortex function
Processes info arriving from:
- proprioceptors
- touch and pressure receptors
- nociceptors
- thermoreceptors
Primary somato sensory cortex location
postcentral gyrus
Primary visual cortex location
occipital lobe
Primary auditory cortex location
temporal lobe